For the last month or two, I’ve been on a HOT streak. It genuinely feels like the thrift gods have blessed me because I’m finding pieces I’ve never been lucky enough to come across before — like a Prada bucket hat for under $60 (!!), or a YSL button-up for under $50!

Absolute insanity.

Now let’s just hope I’m not jinxing it by sharing all these amazing finds. But honestly - there’s no way I could keep these to myself and not share what I’ve snatched up and tell you where I found it.

Since I know secondhand shopping can feel a little intimidating, I also included some tips for shopping secondhand/vintage online and in person to help you spot quality pieces.

Enough yappin’ — here’s what I’ve been thrifting for my closet and my house!

Closet finds

1 | Prada bucket hat: Last year, I was looking high and low for a little crochet hat to wear in the summer. While I didn’t find one that I loved, I did find this Prada bucket hat online a couple of days ago and immediately started planning outfits around it. For under $60, this was such an obvious buy.

2 | YSL satin slip set: I accidentally bought myself a Valentine’s Day present this year, and it happened to be this vintage YSL silk set. I couldn’t believe the price and condition when I saw it online and couldn’t let it go. It makes me feel so fancy when I wear it, and that alone is worth every penny to me.

3 | Sam Edelman mules: I’ve been needing to add in more everyday shoes to the rotation (that AREN’T my black booties), and these looked perfect. Not as casual as a tennis shoe and still look good with denim or trousers.

4 | YSL men’s button-up: This find was actually insane. I went antiquing with my parents last weekend and happened to find this in the men’s vintage clothing section. I nearly fainted when I saw the tag said $45. I’m not exactly sure how I’ll style it yet, but there are so many ways to wear a button-up I’m not even worried about it.

5 | Black Henley bodysuit: I’ve already worn this probably three times since I got it. I love that the buttons go straight up rather than out like a V-neck — it’s more flattering on me, and it’s the best-fitting henley I own.

6 | Posse striped top: I’m sure you’ve seen the Posse striped sleeveless dress a million times on Instagram, but how cute is this top version?! It’s more wearable in my day-to-day, and I can make it work in almost any season.

7 | J.Crew short sleeve: I’m always looking for easy tops to wear for days when I prioritize sleep over planning an outfit. I love that this shirt has a straight neckline — it’s super flattering but also different from other staples I own.

8 | Sam Edelman kitten heels: I love the look of jeans with a little kitten heel poking out — I think it’s so feminine and a bit edgy. I think these will look cute styled like that OR with dresses/skirts for nicer events. I just need it to get warm enough to wear something other than boots.

9 | LPA quarter zip: I’ll be honest, I only half love this top. It’s SOOO cozy, but it’s slightly too cropped to wear with high-waisted jeans. It’ll likely just be something I pair with biker shorts when I go on walks. I still like it; I was just hoping it would be more versatile in my closet.

Home finds

1 | Bathroom mirror: I’ve been looking for the perfect mirror for our half bath, and I finally found it. It was only $30, and it’s so dang cute I can’t get over it.

2 | Curio cabinet: The detail on this piece is insane; it has little lion heads and claw feet that I love. My idea is to store my makeup, skincare, and other beauty products in this fun little curio cabinet. Imagine them all on silver trays, in velvet boxes, and clear crystal vessels. In my head, it looks amazing.

3 | Silver platter: I always need more of these. I love putting beauty products or candles on a silver tray. It feels more layered and a little fancy.

4 | Wood headboard: This secondhand find I have to credit to my husband, who just knows my style so well at this point. He brought this home about a week after we moved in, and we just now got it put together in our guest room.

5 | Art Deco toast rack: There is nothing I love more in life than bread, so when I saw this cute little toast rack at an antique store, I thought, “What better way to make my favorite snack a little fancier?” And honestly, I was right.

6 | Silver dessert trays: And obviously, I needed little plates for my toast, so this was an easy choice. $4 for a set of 4, and they’re real stainless steel.

7 | Pineapple lamp: I have high hopes that I can DIY a lampshade or find another lampshade that is more fun. Maybe fringe? Maybe velvet? The options are endless.

8 | Fabric/tassel box: The CUTEST box I’ve ever seen in my life. I want a million of these. The fabric? The silk lining? THE FREAKING TASSLE?! I can’t believe I got this for $4.

Now for the good part — where the heck did I find a Prada bucket hat for under $60, a YSL shirt for under $50, and all the other amazing home and closet finds? Here is everywhere I shopped, what I searched, and tips for shopping secondhand.

Let’s get into it.

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It’s very quintessential Americana. There’s lots of denim, neutral base layers, suede browns, thick wool sweaters, and models that are way too attractive.

This week’s Thrift Picks is all about how to shop that exact style secondhand.

It’s less about finding pieces that are exclusively RL (although that gives us a good place to start). Instead, it’s more focused on finding quality pieces that blend into that well-curated Ralph Lauren world.

In case you missed it, I tweaked this series just slightly to show you guys more behind the scenes of the thrifting process—things like what search terms I had the best luck with, the best brands to thrift within this aesthetic, and extra secondhand shopping tips.

I’ll link the previous Thrift Picks so you can get a better idea.

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Mood board:
The world of Ralph Lauren is centered around pieces that are well made and timeless. Sometimes his looks lean more western, and sometimes they lean more preppy. Regardless, Ralph Lauren focuses on fabric, construction, and showing the pieces in an aspirational lifestyle setting. They make it feel like if you buy their sweater, you’ll also be part of this beautiful world they’ve built.

The secondhand pieces I’ve compiled feature lots of hand-knit sweaters, wool coats, denim jackets, and more that fit into the Ralph Lauren world. This is one of my favorite collections I’ve put together, so let’s get into it!

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Instead of the whole article being just links, it will still have the curated product list but I’m also going to show you guys how I find great secondhand pieces.

From now on the Thrift Picks series will include:

• a mood board to base our search on,

• 35-45 thrifted finds,

• the search terms I found the most helpful,

• bonus finds I loved,

• extra secondhand shopping tips,

• & style inspo I’m stealing for the week.

Rather than flooding your email with more and more items, this will now have secondhand finds, show you behind the scenes of how I find them, and how I dream of styling them. Hopefully this will help show you how to shop secondhand while still getting a curated list of products to browse from.

LET’S GET INTO IT!

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The Mood: Practical & Polished

One theme I’ve been noticing in fashion this fall is the emphasis on practicality. Pieces you can layer or wear alone, items that are comfortable but still beautiful.

I’m talking cashmere knits, 100% cotton denim, classic trench coats, leather boots - it’s more about adding interest through texture and layers.

The mood for this week’s Thrift Picks is all about deep browns, trench coats you can layer, great denim, high quality knit tops you can layer or wear on their own, and accessories to make it more fun.

Trench Coats

1. Burberry Trench Coat | L | $355 2. Celine Peacoat | M | $188 3. Searle Trench Coat | XL | $140

4. The Frankie Shop Brown Coat | $260 5. Lauren Ralph Lauren Trench Coat | S | $319

Sweaters

1. Everlane Cashmere Sweater | SOLD 2. Khaite Long Sleeve Top | S | $12 3. TOTEME Navy Sweater | S | $171

4. Helsa Sleeveless Top | S | $103 5. Everlane Sweater | XS | $32 6. Helsa V Neck Sweater | M | $99

7. AWAKE Plunge Sweater | XL | $200 8. Helsa Mock Neck Sweater | M | $113

9. The Row Wool Sweater | L | $123

Denim

1. Rohe High Rise Jeans | S | $52 2. Liberowe Jeans w/tags | XS | $126 3. Toteme Wide Leg Jeans | 31 | $167

4. Zimmerman Wide Leg Jeans | XS | $195

Accessories

1. Stuart Weitzman Boots | 6.5 | $175 2. Coach Suede Bag | $145 3. Staud Raffia Bag | $247

4. By Far Leather Bag | $145 5. St.Agni Leather Slides | 8 | $103 6. The Frankie Shop Bomber Jacket | $225

7. XTI Black Leather Boots | 6 | $148 8. Gucci Leather Boots | 8.5 | $200 9. Paloma Wool Leather Boots | 8 | $147

10. Marni Wood Bracelet | $64 11. A.P.C. Wood Bracelet | $51 12. Ben Amun Leather Belt | M | $102

Pants

1.By Malene Birger Skirt | S | $50 2.Helsa Leather Skirt w/tags | XS | $279

3.Calvin Klein Leather Pants | 4 | $42 4.Altuzarra Grey Pants | M | $168 5.Helsa Plaid Print Pants | L | $92

Search Terms

These are terms I had the best luck with while shopping on The Real Real, ThredUp, and Ebay.

Brands:

Rohe, Ralph Lauren, Helsa, St. Agni, Everlane, Stuart Weitzman, Toteme, Khaite

Terms:

brown suede, wood bracelets, brown leather, leather boots, ponyhair, slim turtleneck, merino cashmere

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Bonus Finds

The cutest mary jane flats. I would wear these everyday. Haven’t stopped thinking about these flats for a week. How chic as a weekendbag? Do I need another olive trench on this list? If it’s Burberry, then yes. If Cruella wore Manolo’s it wouldn’t been these. A classic grey sweater that I don’t need..but also NEED.

Thrift Tip: When shopping on ThredUp, use the filters to your advantage! You can get so detailed in what you are looking for - it makes it so much easier to find the exact piece you are looking for. You can sort by fabric type, color, style - it’s amazing.

Style Inspo I’m stealing for the week

Practical & polished & so stunning for the season. I just realized each look includes a taupe or beige color…looks like I know what I’m shopping for next.

WOW that was so much in one post, hopefully that more fun than just scrolling a bunch of links? Let me know what you guys think of this new format - it was definitely more fun for me to put together.

See you guys Monday!

love ya you little thrifters

Thanks for reading Mixed Media, you can shop the print magazine here or follow along on Tiktok & IG for more outfit videos & behind the scenes of my day to day.

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ICYMI…

Every time I put together one of these Thrift Picks, I imagine it being like if Moda Operandi had a second hand store - it would be this.

I want these curated collections to be a mix of really creative, unique, and high quality designers that maybe aren’t going viral on tiktok. Brands that feel like if you know you know. Almost like a secret.

While some pieces are unique, others are high quality basics that you’ll reach for when you don’t want to think about an outfit - but still want to look good. I’m always thinking about what you guys are shopping for next and honestly, I would add every item to my closet if I could. If you have a item you shopping for, feel free to tell me in the chat and I’ll see what I can find.

Today’s Thrift Picks - it’s a mix of late summer pieces and early fall items. There are mini dresses and sandals, and light sweaters and jeans. It’s a good mix to transition into the next season.

If you love this one - think about about upgrading to view the archive and get new secondhand finds every other week!

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Enjoy!!

1. SIR Turtleneck Top | S | $145

2. Ramy Brooke Black Blouse | L | $70

3. The Frankie Shop Short Sleeve | S | $55

4. FRAME Long Sleeve Top | S | $70

5. Favorite Daughter Sweater | M | $148

6. Gucci Silk Top | M | $265

7. FRAME Sleeveless Top | S | $65

8. Helsa V Neck Sweater | XXS | $235

9. Rohe Blazer | S | $139

10. Zimmermann Denim Button Up | S | $148

11. Max Mara Long Sleeve Top | XS | $95

12. Dries Van Noten One Shoulder Top | XS | $125

1. Eterne Short Set | L | $125

2. St.Agni Dress | M | $285

3. Sachin + Babi Black Dress | XS | $165

4. St. John Dress | M | $295

5. Retrofete Blue Dress | XS | $295

1. Rohe Bateau Sweater | S | $94

2. Samsoe & Samsoe Black Top | M | $52

3. Zimmermann Plaid Top | XL | $229

4. St. Agni Short Sleeve Crop Top | S | $235

5. Favorite Daughter Striped Top | S | $84

6. Alice + Olivia Printed Top | S | $95

7. L’Agence Striped Top | S | $80

8. Dion Lee Crew Neck Top | XS | $70

9. Favorite Daughter Striped Button Up | XS | $60

10. Simkhai Sweater | XS | $155

11. The Garment Sweater | M | $63

12. Zimmermann Bodysuit | XS | $204

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1. Khaite High Rise Jeans | M/30 | $275

2. Diesel Strapless Jumpsuit | S | $76

3. Tibi High Rise Jeans | S | $225

4. Bondi Born Linen Set | XS | $260

5. Zimmermann Wide Leg Jeans | XS | $292

1. Favorite Daughter Striped Dress | S | $132

2. Eterne Mini Dress | L | $72

3. Guest in Residence Plaid Dress | M | $100

4. Zimmermann Pink Shorts | M | $180

5. Zimmermann Striped Shorts | S | $165

6. Zimmermann Tan Shorts | S | $245

7. FRAME Sleeveless top | S | $95

8. Favorite Daughter Plaid Skirt | XS | $52

9. Naked Cashmere Shorts | S | $112

10. Eterne Black Bodysuit | S | $92

11. Altuzarra Striped Top | M | $81

12. Toteme Off The Shoulder Top | S | $155

1. Altuzarra Plaid Dress | XS | $132

2. Simkhai Striped Dress | S | $145

3. Johanna Ortiz Printed Mini Dress | XL | $275

4. Posse Mini Dress | M | $245

5. Staud Printed Mini Dress | M | $210

1. Celine Square Sunglasses | $285

2. Ben Amun Bracelet | $92

3. Proenza Schouler Patent Mules | 6 | $275

4. Cult Gaia Raffia Slides | 9 | $265

5. Elleme Suede Tote | $225

6. Gucci Sunglasses | $155

7. Simuero Gold Ring | 5.75 | $100

8. Prada Sunglasses | $245

9. Saint Laurent Sneakers | 10.5 | $205

10. Aeyde Leather Loafers | 8 | $135

11. Simkhai Sandals | 7 | $125

12. Cult Gaia Slingbacks | 9 | $175

There are so many pieces that are on my mental shopping list after this deep dive on The Real Real. Fingers crossed I don’t completely black out and buy everything in my cart.

Till next week! HAVE THE BEST WEEKEND OF YOUR LIVES YOU LITTLE MANIACS! (sorry I yelled)

love you duh

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Just can’t get enough? Keep reading…

But now I get it. Now that I’ve bought jewelry that doesn’t tarnish after 5 wears and handbags that were constructed with longevity in mind - I can see why investing in these pieces is so important for a great wardrobe. Accessories can really make or break a outfit. The easiest way to look put together is adding lots of jewelry or a cute handbag to your look.

Jewelry, handbags, sunglasses - all these are so easy and so fun to buy secondhand. You can get great quality pieces and you aren’t limited by your clothing size. They’re the most versatile pieces you can have in your wardrobe because you can wear them in every season.

That’s why today’s Thrift Picks includes SO MANY items - I just kept finding pieces I loved. There are tons of vintage designer jewelry, stunning handbags, a collection of bracelets - some trendy, some timeless - the list goes on and on.

Here’s a sneak peak of what you’ll find!

I hope you guys love this curated secondhand haul and don’t forget to checkout the other Thrift Picks archives - there are so many good secondhand finds in there.

(Don’t forget to click the button that says ‘Read in App’ to see this full post!)

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SO. MANY. GOOD. PICKS. (do I say this everytime??)

A couple of my favorites are a wicker bag from Cult Gaia, a vintage Prada dress that is backless and LITERALLY perfect for $125 (someone buy this cause I don’t need another black dress), and a sweet little Onia linen mini dress that has tie shoulders and is backless. Absolutely stunning.

OH and I forgot about the vintage Dior seashell earrings! Mentally I’ve already added it to my cart.

Enjoy the curated thrift picks for this week! And if you haven’t subscribed yet, here's a preview of what you’re missin out on…

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It’s been storage. It’s been my closet, and now it’s where I spent every single day. That hasn’t always been the case though. For a long time, it always felt like something was missing from this space.

A couple months ago, when my grandma passed away, one of the pieces I got from their home (full of literal treasures) was this old dresser.

It’s funny - growing up, we spent so much time at their house, but I barely ever noticed it. The most interesting thing in the room was always them.

It sat by their entryway and collected notes, anniversary cards, grocery lists and phone messages. I know this because when it got to my house, it still had all those things stuffed in the top drawers. Left there like they were going to come back to them.

Now that dresser sits in our guest room. It’s completely changed the way I feel about this space. It was always nice having a spare room for guests and extra storage, but it never felt complete. That is…until now.

Instead of being a catch all by the front door, it organizes all my jewelry and extra sweaters that won’t fit in my closet. The top two drawers I lined in a blue velvet and added the photo of odd combs to tie in with the drawers. I’m obsessed with how this little space turned out.

I love this little nook. I love the mirror my friend gave me years ago that sits on top. I love the vase I still need to fill with flowers and the match box I got on a buying trip. I love having a place for my jewelry and extra space for clothes.

I love that this was my grandma’s. And I love that I get to give it a second life. It’s my favorite nook in our house.

For the Mixed Media magazine coming out this fall, I want to have an article that features ‘Normal Nooks’ like this one. Showing the little spaces that people love in their homes.

The whole house might not be decorated to perfection and the kitchen might (definitely) have a sink full of dirty dishes, but these little spaces make it feel like a home. Because I know the readers on substack have unmatched taste - I want to feature the spaces in your homes that you love.

I’ve created a submission form where you can submit 2-3 three images of your favorite space in your home and a couple sentences telling us why.

As a thank you, you’ll get 2 months of my paid content for free! This includes the entire archive of Thrift Picks and all other paid articles. Oh and you might be featured in the magazine too!

This offer will only be available till July 3rd and then I’m closing the submission form. The magazine comes out this fall, and if you’re featured - I’ll send you a message letting you know!

Thank you for sharing a little piece of your home with me and thanks for always supporting this newsletter :)

NOW onto the incredible thrift picks for this week - featuring all home decor!

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There is a Celine bucket hat under $300, a silk Celine Dress under $120, an Alaia top you could wear to work or out for $105, Saint Laurent shorts for under $200, and so many more great finds. I could go on forever, but instead I’ll let you guys browse and tell me what you think!

Enjoy all the secondhand finds, and if you’re ever looking for a specific piece - let me know in the chat and I’ll see what I can find.

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I hope you all enjoy this free edition of Thrift Picks. If you want more curated lists of secondhand finds so you don’t have to sift through The Real Real, think about upgrading to paid! You’ll get two of these a month plus more exclusive posts when you upgrade.

And if you ever have anything specific you are shopping for, leave a request in the chat! I love chatting with you guys about what pieces you’re looking for.

Now to the best summer essentials on The Real Real right now…

Long & Midi Dresses

1. Anna Quan midi length dress | M | $140

2. Posse Black linen dress | S | $365

3. SIR. olive dress | XL | $365

4. Rachel Gilbert one shoulder dress | XS | $248

5. Matteau silk dress | XS | $695

6. SIR Linen dress | XS | $229

Tops

1. Cala de la Cruz linen print top | L | $189

2. Onia knit short sleeve top | L | $45

3. Heirlome Silk top | M | $120

4. St. Agni scoop neck top | S | $92

5. Miu Miu striped crop top | XS | $549

6. Jonathan Simkhai Long sleeve top | L | $75

7. Toteme strapless top | M | $156

8. Chloe vintage crop top | M | $239

9. Tibi square neck line top | XL | $125

& more tops

1. Zimmermann black top | L | $230

2. St. Agni strapless top | L | $135

3. Posse Linen crop top | L | $80

4. Heirlome long sleeve black top | XS | $204

5. St.Agni black top | XL | $135

6. Heirlome lace top | XL | $275

7. Toteme crewneck | XS | $95

8. Toteme beige tank top | M | $225

9. St. Agni button down dress | L | $236

Shorts & Skirts

1. By Malene Birger black and tan shorts | M | $95

2. Faithfull The Brand striped shorts| XS | $40

3. TWP greewn shorts | XS | $80

4. Zimmermann print skirt | M | $252

5. Zimmermann print linen shorts | XS | $319

6. Haikure denim shorts | M | $68

7. Miu Miu red mini skirt | XS | $556

8. Alice + Olivia linen shorts | M | $68

9. Aje white mini skirt | L | $135

10. ALEMAIS embroidered shorts| M | $455

11. ALC Linen shorts | S | $115

12. Helsa linen shorts | S | $189

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Pants

1. Andres Otalora print pants | XS | $188

2. Comme Si striped pants | S | $188

3. Destree Linen pants | S | $475

4. Reformation striped linen pants | XXL | $113

5. Reformation wide linen pants | S | $116

6. Chloe Linen pants | M | $135

   ---

Mini Dresses & Rompers

1. Reformation linen mini dress | M | $105

2. Onia white dress | L | $65

3. Reformation blue linen dress | S | $64

4. Deiji Studios striped set | M | $265

5. Onia Linen Romper | M | $46

6. Missoni striped mini dress | M | $235

7. Rachel Gilbert print mini dress | XS | $124

8. Asceno Linen dress | M | $125

9. Posse Linen mini dress | M | $325

Shoes & Accessories

1. Aeyde leather slides | 7 | $122

2. Miu Miu black slingbacks | 7 | $510

3. Missoni crochet bucket hat | $105

4. Toteme suede sneakers | 8.5 | $188

5. Prada straw hat | $436

6. Aeyde leather slides | 9 | $175

7. Toteme leather slides | 11.5 | $238

8. Eliou pearl necklace | $150

9. The Frankie Shop hat | $50

10. Miu Miu baseball cap | $300

11. Celine sunglasses | $400

12. Miu Miu silver slingback pumps | 8 | $525

Let me know what your favorite pieces were! Lord knows half of these are already in my cart. Oh and before I forget - next week’s post will be on Tuesday instead of Monday. Go enjoy your memorial day weekend and get a sunburn for me.

LOVE YOU GUYS

I just love browsing their site and making mental lists of brands to search on The Real Real. That’s what inspired this week’s Thrift Picks. So many of the pieces I found are from brands that can also be found on their site.

While they might not all be well known designer labels (like Hermes or Manolo Blahnik), they are stunning and high quality nonetheless. If it’s good enough to be on Moda, then it’s good enough for me.

I included a preview of what you’ll find in this week curated secondhand finds. Some designer swimwear, lots of Manolo Blahniks, the cutest matching sets, maxi dresses (and minis) that would be perfect for vacation, Prada slides, the cutest little Dior silk shorts, and so much more.

Let me know what you guys think and as always, if you have any special requests - leave it in the comments and I’ll include in the next Thrift Picks!

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It wasn’t until I was in college and had a friend with such a unique sense of style—and every time I asked her about it, she said she got it at Goodwill. I was shocked. The place with all the mothballs and scary old dolls? The thrift stores in the city were nothing like I was used to. All of a sudden, there were racks of clothes that weren’t half bad, pieces that still had the tags on them, and jewelry that wasn’t falling apart.

It’s like a switch flipped in my broke college kid brain. I couldn’t afford most of the clothes I actually wanted—but I could find similar pieces shopping secondhand.

To this day, I still prefer thrifting to buying new—something about having pieces I know not everyone else has feels special to me. Although now I prefer secondhand shopping online rather than in person—mostly so I can binge Summer House while I browse.

This hobby-turned-hyper-fixation has led me to discover so many places to find amazing pieces. Some designer, some gently-worn rentals, and some that are so well curated you’ll be tempted to buy every piece. On one of these sites, you can even shop the closets of Emily Oberg (founder of Sporty & Rich), Kelly Wearstler (amazing interior designer), Jess Graves (OG Substack It Girl), and more everyday fashion icons.

The whole thing with thrifting is you’re discovering hidden gems. These sites are full of them. It makes finding amazing pieces so easy you’ll actually have to narrow down your favorites because you’ll have so many. And the best part is these sites seem to have way less competition because they aren’t as well known.

The RealReal is all fun and games till someone buys the dress you mentally planned on wearing to that wedding before you could add it to your cart. Something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

While I hope you never have to go through that—I’ll leave my best-kept secrets secondhand shopping sites below, just in case you need some retail therapy.

These are the sites I’ve been keeping for myself cause they were just too good to share. Here we go.

Cover photo is by Slava Mir.

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Right now, I am personally shopping for easy closet staples for the spring. Linen shorts, easy blouses for everyday, neutral flats - I just need a little refresh. I don’t think you can ever have to many good basics in your closet, so I also included a great section for everyday pieces.

One of the best parts of shopping secondhand (in my opinion) is finding really unique statement pieces SOOOO of course I had to include a section for that as well.

I really have so much putting these together for you guys. If you ever have certain pieces you are shopping for, let me know in the comments or in the chat and I’ll see what I can find for the next Thrift Picks! Enjoy secondhand shopping!

*This post is a big too long for most emails - make sure to hit ‘Read in App’ to get the full article.

Spring Dresses

Self Portrait yellow dress | $355 ALC Pink dress | $175 DELFI Collective Navy gown | $93

Simkhai lavender maxi dress | $40 Likely blue dress | $118

Mossi pleated black dress | $69 Sea New York white dress | $88 Retrofete black dress | $50

Badgley Mischka sequin gown | $50

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I also included lots of other spring wardrobe essentials - like a trench coat, flats, and linen everything. I hope you enjoy these thrift finds! This will be the last Thrift Picks that is free to all subscribers so if you enjoyed this - consider upgrading your subscription so you don’t miss out!

Accessories

Aeyde Slingback Pumps | 10 | $155 Aeyde Mary Jane Flats | 9 | $108 St.Agni Mules | 8 | $92

Dunhill Belt | M | $63 Samuele Cipriani leather belt | 2 | $60 Helsa Brown Belt | *SOLD*

Avignon White Belt | M | $60 Jimmy Choo Leather belt | XS | $63 Donna Karan Suede Belt | L | $52

Prada Mules | 38.5 | $140 Proenza Schouler Suede Bag | $67 St.Agni leather slides | 10 | $121

Jackets

Jil Sander Leather Jacket | XS | $202 Brown Leather Jacket | L | $140 Ralph Lauren Bomber | M/L | $258

Vintage belted trench | $108 Donna Karan Jacket with Tags | XS | $67 YSL Blue Gray trench | M | $248

Vintage Leather Flight Jacket | $218 Helsa Bomber Jacket | XXS | $385 Vintage Suede Fringe Jacket | $288

Nili Lotan Utility Jacket | XL | $410 Walter Baker Leather Jacket | M | $70 Theory Jacket | M | $58

Tops pt. 1

Favorite Daughter Top | XS | $95 Favorite Daughter Sheer Top | XL | $84 Alex Perry Button Up | M | $188

By Malene Birger Top | M | $76 Posse Linen Top | M | $45 By Malene Birger Blue Top | XS | $58

Staud Striped Top | S | $50 Leset Long Sleeve Top | XL | $63 Vintage Jil Sander Silk Top | XS | $300

Anna Quan Short Sleeve Top | XL | $52 Vintage Silk & Linen Blouse | $64 Butter Knit Sweater Top *Sold*

Tops pt.2

Prada Floral Blouse | S | $200 Miu Miu Grey Crop Top | M | $115 Christian Dior Lace Tank | S | $250

House of CB Sheer top | S | $63 Khaite Ista Top | XS | $260 Prada Net Cami | L | $110

Anders Otalora | XS | $200 Leset Sleeveless Top | S | $84 Zimmerman Sleeveless Top | 4 | $151

Shorts & Pants

Eterne Mini Shorts | L | $63 Helsa Mini Skirt | L | $67 Helsa Mini Shorts | S | $100

Tibi Linen Mini Shorts | S | $50 Gucci 2022 Mini Shorts | *SOLD* Helsa Striped Shorts | XS | $48

Derek Lam Linen Shorts | M | $59 Aexae Linen Shorts | XS | $72 Zimmerman Linen Shorts | M | $435

The Frankie Shop Shorts | XL | $23 Posse Wide Leg Pants | L | $115 Rohe High-Rise Jeans | XS | $95

This is the last *free* edition of Thrift Picks so to keep getting curated second hand finds like this - maybe think about upgrading your subscription? Curating a selection of secondhand and vintage finds like this takes a lot of time but I love doing it.

Also, if you’re looking for something specific for spring, tell me in the comments or join our chat and I’ll see what I can find for you!

Stay thrifty out there.

LOVE YOU YA MANIACS

I would highly recommend clicking the link to read this in substack rather than email. Substack already told me it would get clipped so this is just a forewarning.

If you haven’t read my Spring Trends prediction post: 1. how dare you 2. these second hand finds go right along with my trend report. I’ll just leave that here.

This is my first official ‘thrift picks’ so let me know what you think! I want to do these more often so let me know what you guys are shopping for and I’ll start including them in this series.

Colors

Yves Saint Laurent Silk Pants | XL | $80 Cult Gaia dress | L | $65 By Far Leather bag | $180

PatBo Jumpsuit | M | $248 Interior Straight Leg Pants | XS | $68 Nanuska Holleen Jacket | M L | $268

Staud one-shoulder top | S | $125 Staud V Neck | S | $68 Area Wide Leg Pants | S | $84

Rosie Assoulin Striped Top | L | $98 Loewe Puzzle charm | $237 COS Off the shoulder dress | L | $64

Cult Gaia yellow mini dress | XS | $42 Helsa Strapless top | S | $57 (my fav) Staud sequin top | S | $129

Nanushka Leather top | M | $89 Jacquemus Bodysuit | XS | $124 Matthew Bruch romper | L | $75

ba&sh Red dress | L | $122 Bevza red bag | $168 Manolo Blahnik red sling back heels | 8 | $150

Patterns & Prints

Saint Laurent silk blouse | XS | *sold* Nila Lotan Slip dress | L | $95 Retrofete striped jacket | S | $100

Cult Gaia plaid skirt | S | $39 Cult Gaia Plaid top | XS | $25 For Love & Lemons print sweater | M | $57

Apiece Apart button up | S | $55 Victoria Beckham Button up | M | $100 YAITTE striped button up | S | $116

Dolce & Gabana slingbacks | 8 | $145 Self Portrait crop top | S | $116 Ganni High rise jeans | M | $115

Boho Style

For Love & Lemons dress | S | $60 Retrofete Denim Jumpsuit | M | $236 PatBo dress | S | $179

L’Academie pantsuit | L | $109 Noon by Noor top | L | $105 Retrofete crochet dress | XL | $188

Toteme leather slides | 7 | $185 Cult Gaia Mules | 10 | $78 JW Anderson bag | $185

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Embellished Minimalism

Jacquemus heels | 6.5 | $145 PatBo fringe dress | M | $265 Fforme Brown shirt | S | $165

Bevza crop top | S | $49 Retrofete mini dress | M | $116 Marissa Web jumpsuit | $50

Victoria Beckham silk blouse | M | $124 Cult Gaia wrap sweater | L | $84 Cult Gaia mini dress | L | $62

Ganni mini skirt | S | $125 Staud off the shoulder top | S | $100 Retrofete sweater dress | S | $84

Fisherman Style & Sport Luxe

Sporty & Rich striped set | M | $236 The Frankie Shop shorts | XS | $92 L’Agence striped blouse | S | $75

Frame off the shoulder top | M | *sold* Matthew Bruch dress | XS | $23 YAITTE striped sweater | S | $126

Sporty & Rich mini shorts | XS | $64 Sporty & Rich sweater | M | $108 Sporty & Rich mini skirt | S | $145

Okay, so what did we think? Should we do this more often? Did you guys like the brand selection? I’m dying to hear your thoughts!

Till next time!

LOVE YOU LITTLE THRIFTERS

Nonetheless, sustainable shopping and thrifting are starting to become almost… trendy?

Thrifting has been my favorite hobby for the last ten years. It feels like treasure hunting but for fashion. Imagine if they made National Treasure about the girlies who thrift, and instead of finding a lost city, it’s a mislabeled Birkin bag that someone snagged for $95.

That would actually be more impressive than Nicolas Cage risking his life to clear his family’s name.

Regardless, I’ve always loved secondhand shopping—even before it was trendy. I get to buy from brands that would typically be out of my price range, it’s a good way to find pieces no one else has, it’s sustainable—I could go on and on.

Instead of boring you, I’ll give you some of my best tips for thrifting great pieces on The Real Real.

Some of these are pretty standard if you’re a seasoned thrifter, so I broke them into two sections: Beginner Tips and Pro Tips. If you’re new to TRR, the beginner tips will help you make sense of the site. If you’ve been shopping on TRR for a while, the pro tips will help you get even better at it.

Let’s get into it.

Beginner Tips

1. The Editor’s Picks is a good place to start for great finds—this is a more curated selection of products and includes some really great pieces. If you don’t want to dig through the site, start here.

2. New items are posted every day at 9 AM & 6 PM CST. This is a great time to scroll for new finds or quickly go through your saved searches to see what new items have arrived in brands you like.

3. Use the filter option to sort items from lowest price to highest. This is the easiest way to find great items that have been on the site for a while and are highly discounted.

   A lot of times, if I don’t want to dig around, I’ll just go to the Editor’s Picks, sort it from lowest to highest, and see what deals there are.

Now let’s get into the more in-depth tips for shopping The Real Real…

Pro Tips

1. Curate a list of brands that you like (that aren’t super mainstream and popular) and shop those for the best deals. We aren’t looking at brands like Chanel, Prada, or Versace—we’re looking for smaller, niche brands. The main thing to look for here is high-quality fabrics and fit with little resale value. You can get great quality pieces for such a good price doing this.

   1. Examples:

      • St. John (a dress retails for $1,200+, resells for $140)

      • Lanvin (a shirt retails for $700+, resells for $60–$100)

2. Cross-reference items to make sure you are getting the best deal. There are a couple of ways to do this:

   • Search the product name on Google and see if it’s cheaper anywhere else.

   • You can also search directly on TRR to see if the exact same thing is being sold for less.

   • Google Image Search can also help you find other listings of the same item online.

   This might be a secret I’m not supposed to share, but sometimes if stores overbuy a certain product and it doesn’t sell, they will try selling it on resale sites.

   If you see twenty of the same sweater on TRR, a store probably bought too many, and they’re trying to get rid of their stock. This means the same exact product could be listed for less somewhere else on the site.

   This is why cross-referencing is important.

   

3. The Real Real mislabels products occasionally, meaning you could get a really unique piece for super cheap if they didn’t catch the mistake.

   The only way I’ve seen to find mislabeled products is to just dig through the site. If you see something you think is mislabeled, look at the item description, the brand, and the tag (if you can see it). You can also do a reverse image search to try to find the original product listing.

   This is one area where narrowing down the filters won’t help. It could be that a trench coat got mislabeled as a cardigan and is actually 95% off of the original value. Keep an eye out while you search around for anything that seems off. You could get an incredible piece for really, really cheap, but it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.

4. Speaking of labeling - leather is often labeled as lambskin or goatskin, so if you are looking for leather pieces, use those in the search bar as well.

5. Solid color shoes are sometimes categorized as ‘animal print.’ Especially textured or embossed leather (even if it doesn’t look like animal print) will be put into that category. When you go through your filters make sure you select ‘animal print’ so you don’t miss out on those!

   

6. If you are waiting for it to be marked down, check first thing in the morning. TRR does markdowns based on how long something has been on the site and how popular the brand is.

   • Examples of brands that don’t get marked down quickly (if ever): Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton.

   • NWT items are discounted slower because they’re in better condition than their counterparts.

   • Once an item is marked down to 40% off, it’s final sale and can’t be returned. Something to keep in mind.

   If you are holding out for a certain piece, make sure you check early and often. Otherwise, it could be snatched up. And you will think about it every day for the next year.

7. Items that say ‘coming soon,’ means it’s getting returned and will be back in stock at some point. Sometimes it will even be relisted with a discount. Keep checking and refreshing because if you wanted that piece—now is the time.

8. I’ve seen mixed opinions on this, but it seems like TRR sales aren’t real. It is mostly a marketing tactic to create urgency and show you a different group of products. Occasionally, an item will go back up in price, but it doesn’t seem to coincide with a sale. Basically—take their sales with a grain of salt.

   ---

Thrifting is a blood sport. It takes a lot of patience, scrolling, luck and a little strategy, but damn is it fun. I have another post on more general thrifting tips that you should checkout if you liked this one.

I’m going to go watch Sex and The City for the tenth time and scroll The Real Real till I have carpal tunnel.

Talk to you soon!

LUV YA, YA LITTLE THRIFTERS.

Since college, I would say about 75% of my wardrobe has been gathered (thrifted). What started as a way to buy the brands I liked (but couldn’t afford) has now turned into a bit of a hobby of mine.

The best part is I do almost all of it online. I don’t always love going to thrift stores to scour through the racks of clothing when I could just search it online from my couch. I believe you can build a beautiful, quality wardrobe without buying everything new with tags and if you’re new to thrifting - you’re gonna love this newsletter.

Without further ado - here are some of my tips for thrifting a beautiful wardrobe.

No. 1 | Find the websites that work best for you & how you want to shop. 

For me personally - I primarily shop on ThredUp and The Real Real. There are so many sites out there for buying second hand online but these have been consistent favorites for me. 

Places you can shop second hand online: 

ThredUp - Great for brands that average $200 or below at full price. I believe ThredUp accepts any brands but I find they have a bigger selection of mid to lower priced brands. 

Perks: They always have tons of sales for extra discounts & I can usually get free shipping. 

The Real Real - Great for brands that average $200+. The Real Real vets all the pieces they bring in so they usually don’t take lower priced brands like H&M or Zara. It’s good for brands that have more name recognition. 

Perks: Going through the ‘Editor Picks’ can be fun. 

Downside: Shipping is never free (it’s always $15 and if you have to return it it’s $15 to ship back too)

Poshmark - Poshmark feels like the wild west to me. You can find good things on here and you can negotiate a lower price but it’s kind of a pain. When you buy an item on here, it’s from an actual person and not a warehouse so sometimes they don’t ship right away. 

I use Poshmark if I’m searching for a very specific piece item from a brand. I don’t use this website as much as the others. 

Perks: Potentially getting a really good deal through negotiating. 

Ebay - I personally have only browsed pieces on Ebay but I’ve seen lots of cool vintage items and unique jewelry on here. It might be worth looking into for more unique pieces to add to your wardrobe. You can sometimes negotiate for a lower price here as well.

No. 2 | Use your favorite stores to find brands to thrift. 

These websites can be kind of overwhelming when you start. There are so many ways to search and shop that it can just be…overwhelming.

When I started, I would scroll Revolve or Anthropologie to find brands that I liked and then search those brands on ThredUp. It’s only one way to find good pieces on these sites but it gives you somewhere to start.

Brands I shop on ThredUp: LPA, Norma Kamali, Lovers & Friends, White + Warren

Brands I shop on The Real Real: Anine Bing, Acne Studios, Toteme, Tibi

No. 3 | Look at the fabric contents to get a sense of the quality. 

I wish I started doing this sooner. I want to fill my closet with pieces that will last years and years and the best way to do that is to purchase clothes made of high quality materials.

Now I look at the item description and check the fabric contents. It’s better to buy clothes that are made mainly with natural fibers because they are more durable and they are easier to repair.

Some brands are out here charging an arm and a leg for polyester (even when it’s being resold) and I’m not falling for it. 

Fabrics that I look for in my clothes: Cotton, Wool, Silk, Linen, Cashmere

Fabrics I avoid: Polyester, Polyamide, Nylon, Rayon, Acrylic, Acetate, Viscose

A lot of times fabric will be a blend of natural fibers & synthetic but try to buy pieces that have a higher percentage of natural fibers if you can.

No. 4 | Check often and use the saved searches

The thing about building a wardrobe is it takes time. Especially when you are thrifting it rather than buying cheap mass produced items. ThredUp and The Real Real both allow you to save your searches so you can browse through your favorite brands really easily. 

I don’t usually have time to do a huge deep dive and remember all the brands I like, but I usually have 5 minutes to scroll through my saved searches. 

The thing about building a wardrobe (that is mostly secondhand) is you just have to check often and the saved searches makes it so much easier to do that.

No. 5 | Filter the search to your size & one size bigger. 

This is one of the first things I did on both sites. I always include my size in the search and a size bigger.

I know if I find a piece that I’m in love with but it’s a size too big, I can either wear it oversized or take it to a tailor and get it taken in. I’ve done this with denim and with dresses and it’s so worth it to get your pieces tailored.

*I’m not sure the actual price of this dress but others from St. John average about $1,200

I personally love thrifting (if that wasn’t obvious). It allows me to buy the brands that would normally be out of my price range. I can buy high quality items for way less than I could at a department store, and it’s fun having a unique wardrobe filled with pieces I’ve gathered. 

Sometimes I think people assume if you thrift you’re going to look like Miss Frizzel when in reality, you can still shop the styles you like - it just takes a little more effort.

I’ll keep sharing my tips for shopping second hand cause I love thrifting (oh my god we get ittttt) and cause I have so many more tips. If you use any of these let me know and tell me all about the cool pieces you found! 

See you next week!! 

LOVE YOU